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12
Reece
For the first time in over a decade, I resented my country and the work it needed me to do as its leader. I'd been born the heir and as such I'd had nothing but respect for the position that I would eventually have to take. Even as a Prince I'd worked harder than some Kings I knew.
And there had been times that work was the only thing I needed, the only thing I wanted. Because it was the only thing that truly made sense.
But now, my well-furnished and airy office was a prison because it kept me from Alina. She had easily become the one thing that I needed and wanted more than the stability that my work had given me. I strained at the confines of my responsibility and tried to speed through my work so I might see her again.
Mingling had taken up even more of my time at the picnic, but I'd eventually abandoned my hosting duties to escape to my work. The faster I got everything done, the sooner I would be able to spend time with Alina. Once my formal proposal to her was submitted, we could forego the pretense and spend as much time as we liked getting to know one another.
As I’d told her, it was never too early to start a lifetime.
A knock sounded on the door, and I lifted my head to spy Cheval standing in the doorway, a frown marring his features. Tension immediately knotted in my spine. "What is it, Cheval? Is there trouble with the proposal agreement? I was hoping to review and submit it within the day."
"That's the least of our worries, Majesty. It's about Corbin," he started, and I snarled at the name, springing to my feet in annoyance.
The gnat in the wall was getting to truly be a pest. I'd learned that he had the little skirmish orchestrated on the day of the ball, which he’d likely used as an excuse to spend time with Alina. When I received reports that he’d bothered Alina at the picnic earlier today, I'd ordered Cheval to have him watched.
It seemed like he was determined to cause further troubles and, politically, if I wanted to avoid war breaking out between Oshal and Daunalt then I had to be smart. I had a feeling he wasn't done with his plans so it was in my best interest to stay two steps ahead of him. "What is it about the pest?"
"He had his flight plan out of Oshal altered, Your Grace. He plans to leave tonight."
At the words, the breath expelled from my lungs, a sigh of relief that didn't completely relax the tension in my shoulders. "And that's it?"
"I'm having it checked but that appears to be it, yes." He held up a finger as his other hand pressed against the earbud he had on. His eyes widened before he turned to me. The look in them sent a cold line of fear skittering down my spine. When he spoke, my world collapsed around me. "He's made changes and additions to the flight manifest. Last minute ones."
"He wouldn't dare," I said but even as I did, I already knew the truth. If his actions in the past two days were any indication then he certainly would. "Have her room—"
Cheval broke me off, as he snapped out a final order to his earpiece. "Ahead of you, they're on the way now."
In tense silence, we rushed towards the Guest Wing but before we could make it to the area where we'd assigned the Lantis delegation, a young man dressed in my security's livery rushed towards us. "Sir. Sir!"
We stopped and allowed the man to come to a stop and catch his breath before he continued, "The rooms have been checked, Sir," he addressed Cheval but gave me a respectful bow. "They're clear save for one room. All men's clothes in there." He held up a dark gauzy material and presented it to us. "This was the only thing in the smallest room, Your Highness."
I snatched it away and instantly the scent of Alina reached my nose. I’d never seen it before but knew it was the veil that had hidden her away from the world. The physical manifestation of the cage that had kept her locked inside.
And I held it as the only thing of hers that I had left. I wanted to tear it with my bare hands. Instead, I just curled my fists around it angrily.
"Fuck," I muttered angrily. "Have the car brought to the front. We're going to the airport. Call and make sure that their flight is stalled. Have the fucking police force summoned if necessary. I'll not let her leave Oshal. Not until I know what’s going on."
I was fuming, but years of training made it so I stopped myself from spewing anger all over my staff and security. What was the point of having a Palace full of people in your service if they couldn't be relied upon to watch over your most precious jewel?
Rage like I’d never known rushed through my veins. It wasn’t their fault. After all, the day before they hadn't even known she'd existed. They didn’t know that I’d found the other half of me, their future Queen. I had to expect that my staff would not know what to protect and cherish. But when I finally got her back to where she properly belonged, she would be treasured, and they would all know the truth.
Cheval relayed my orders, the words spitting out of his mouth like bullets as I moved swiftly down the stairs and towards the front doors. My head of security rushed towards me, silently flanking me as he relayed orders of his own. He turned to me as we stepped outside and into the quickly setting sun. "The roads to the airport are being cleared now, Your Majesty. We'll get there in half the time."
He rushed forward and opened the door to the back of the black, bulletproof SUV and I hopped right inside, Cheval at my heels. He slammed the door shut just as my security was doing the same at the front seat. Barely a moment later, we sped down the driveway. My hands gripped the leather seat, my nails biting into the material as I remembered the way Alina's nails had gripped the skin on my shoulders.
I'd be damned if that was the only time I ever had my taste of her. I closed my eyes and remembered those green eyes, the innocent ways her mouth moved and drove me crazy.
When I opened my eyes, we were on the road, zooming down the path cleared by power and privilege. "Drive faster." Every second I could not see her meant an additional second she could be taken from me. I looked down at the gauzy dark material I still held in my hand. I would not have the woman who would be the Jewel of Oshal remembered by a dark piece of cloth that her mother had used to cage her.
Because I was prepared to go to war over her. I just had to hope it wouldn't come to that.
* * *
"What do you mean they haven't checked?" Cheval barked into his phone as we were seconds away from pulling up at the Oshal international airport. "Well, get the fuck there. We're pulling up now and will be at your heels."
I gritted my teeth the moment he disconnected the call and demanded, "Tell me."
"It seems they misunderstood the directive to personally stop the plane. They've just stalled it a little by delaying the plane occupying the runway where the Daunalt private jet was supposed to take off from. However, its pilot has requested and been granted access to use a different runway and the airport security hasn't checked nor stopped them. They’ve been informed of their mistake and are on their way."
"Idiots," I muttered to myself just like Alina would. The memory of it, my socially awkward princess, made a pang of longing spear through me. I pushed it back and gathered the anger I would need to go head to head with Corbin.
I felt like a beast stalking my mate, and nothing would stand in my way.
